Overview:
Long before "Gray Monday" when the HPG network collapsed, the Republic Armed
Forces was researching Tripod Battlemechs. Originally known as the Triskelion
Project, it was not nearly as ambitious as the Rhodes Project that would follow
it. The original aim was simply to prove out the concept of a Tripod design and
work out limitations encountered by previous attempts to develop the
technology.
To begin with, the research team decided to modify an existing design and fit
it with a tripod motive system. To limit other variables as much as possible,
they chose a very simple base design to modify; the Urbanmech. It was a simple
and stable workhorse that would allow the engineers to work out the
fundamentals of the technology. Three Capellan model Urbanmechs were brought
out of mothball storage to serve as prototypes. Over a six year period, these
three prototypes would go through many variations but would ultimately shake
out the multi-pilot platform that the Rhodes Project would build upon.
These first prototypes were never really intended for combat. However, after
the success of the Poseidon and Ares, the Rhodes Foundry decided to take the
final step and make a production version based on the prototypes. Dubbed the
Urbanmech III, it would prove to be a nimble urban fighter and a capable escort
for it's much larger cousins.
Capabilities:
Taking a cue from the Urbanmech IIC, the Urbanmech III has a top speed of 54
kph. The original prototypes were slower, but used improved jump jets to
achieve a 90-meter jump capacity. However, the Urbanmech III would be called
upon to keep pace with the Poseidon and so needed a greater ground speed. The
larger engine also allowed for the same jump capacity with less sophisticated
jump jets. The tripod platform combined with jump capability results in a very
agile 'mech. Even if it isn't fast it is still very capable in urban
engagements.
Despite being intended for escort and urban engagements, the weapons of the
UM-R300 are top-of-the-line. The least sophisticated is it's main gun. Taking a
cue from the new UM-R93 model recently developed by the Capellans, the UM-R300
also carries a Plasma Rifle, a highly effective weapon against a variety of
targets. Supplementing that at close range is an Improved Heavy Medium Laser,
offering just as much anti-armor power as the main gun. The laser mounting also
includes an integral Clan-tech CASE to safeguard against any explosion should
the laser be damaged in combat. Finally, a micro pulse laser serves as a defense
against infantry.
Double heat sinks keep heat levels quite manageable even in the thick of
battle. The UM-R300 also carries a Guardian ECM Suite to disrupt enemy
electronics, while a compact gyro makes room for the ECM. Finally, seven tons
of Light Ferro-Fibrous armor make it quite durable for a light 'mech.